MEDIA RELEASE

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Mount Elizabeth Hospitals mark 40th Anniversary; introduce healthcare and explore employment opportunities to persons on the spectrum

- Mount Elizabeth Hospitals mark 40th anniversary with the adoption of the Autism Resource Centre () (“ARC”) as their official charity to champion a more inclusive society - 30 Secondary students from Pathlight School gain insights into healthcare industry in a first-of-its kind educational visit to a hospital - Mount Elizabeth Hospitals are partnering ARC to explore employability training and potential placement of adults on the at Mount Elizabeth Hospital’s pharmacy

3 July 2019 – For the first time, 30 Secondary 3 and 4 students from Pathlight School will get a rare opportunity to appreciate and experience the wide spectrum of roles within the hospital grounds to enable them to make informed decisions regarding future career choices in the healthcare industry.

The half-day educational programme at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital on 6 July 2019, Saturday will see students donning scrubs and rotating through seven different departments including the A&E, Infection Control and Radiology. Autism-friendly activities at each station have been carefully designed to cater to the students. Some of these are tasks that may be part of potential job opportunities in the hospital’s F&B, environment and pharmacy services.

“This half-day of immersive learning helps students to experience the healthcare industry in authentic settings and interact with hospital staff. We hope that this will spark their interest in this sector,” said Dr Peter Chow, Chief Operating Officer of Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital. “In fact, we are developing a training programme with ARC’s Employability and Employment Centre to explore employment opportunities within the hospital for people with special needs.”

Inclusive initiatives to mark Mount Elizabeth Hospitals’ 40th Anniversary

These initiatives are part of the collaboration between Mount Elizabeth Hospitals and ARC, which the hospitals have adopted as their charity partner to commemorate their 40th Anniversary. The hospitals have pledged to raise S$150,000 to ARC to support its mission to help individuals on the autism spectrum maximise their fullest potential in life.

Ms , President of ARC and School Supervisor of Pathlight School said, “Persons on the autism spectrum have strengths that make them valuable employees. These include their strong attention to detail and abilities to focus and adhere to needed routines. We are delighted that Mount Elizabeth Hospitals recognise the value that persons on the autism spectrum can bring to the healthcare sector. Work offers opportunities to contribute, socialise and attain some form of financial independence. We look forward to partnering with Mount Elizabeth hospitals to discover more work opportunities for persons on the autism spectrum to maximise their potential in life.”

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About Mount Elizabeth Hospitals

Mount Elizabeth has been serving the Asia-Pacific for over 40 years as a leading medical hub, earning the trust of patients from all over the region with its strategic pairing of exceptional medical talents with advanced technology. Staffed by a large team of dedicated professionals and a diverse mix of highly skilled specialists, the Mount Elizabeth Hospitals - Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital have received the renowned Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation of quality care.

About Autism Resource Centre (Singapore)

Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) or ARC, is a not-for-profit charity based in Singapore and was officially set up in 2000. It was started by professional and parent volunteers dedicated to serve children and adults on the autism spectrum, to help these individuals lead meaningful and independent lives in society. ARC is one of the largest autism bodies in Asia offering a wide range of programmes and services:

• WeCAN Early Intervention Programme provides direct intervention to young children on the autism spectrum 6 years and below. It is the first internationally accredited EIP in Asia by the National Autistic Society, United Kingdom since 2008.

• Pathlight School is the first autism-focused school offering Singapore’s mainstream academic curriculum together with life readiness skills for children aged 7 to 18 years old.

• Employability and Employment Centre serves to equip, place and support adults on the autism spectrum to be contributing members of the workforce.

• Autism Intervention, Training and Consultancy empowers and enskills professionals and caregivers to better support individuals with on the autism spectrum.

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